335i or M3?

[Shiny.E90]

Hello all,
So I currently have an E90 335i, it’s fbo making 410 whp. I’ve found a really good offer on an E92 M3 like really good. So I want to know everyone’s option before/if I pull the trigger on this purchase and selling my 335i. I’m not gonna lie I was looking for an M3 before I bought my 335i but the deal I got on my 335i was just amazing. I love both cars the N54 is awesome and same with the S65, if I could afford both I would definitely keep both of them. So I would love to hear reviews from people who have gone from an M3 to a 335i or vise versa. Thanks everyone

[Solo_M_Tech]

.

[wfdeacon88]

I came from a 335i (it was my wife's but I daily drove it bc of my longer commute). I drove it probably 80K miles over 5 years. (Not modded)

Swapped to an E90 M3 last year after I was rear ended.

If I would have known how much better the S65 and entire car was compared to the 335, I would have switched 5 year ago. I wish I could delete the memories of driving that POS.

[Shiny.E90]

Originally Posted by wfdeacon88

I came from a 335i (it was my wife's but I daily drove it bc of my longer commute). I drove it probably 80K miles over 5 years. (Not modded)

Swapped to an E90 M3 last year after I was rear ended.

If I would have known how much better the S65 and entire car was compared to the 335, I would have switched 5 year ago. I wish I could delete the memories of driving that POS.

Dang! Hahaha I do feel I’m going to get the M3 but just wanted to hear some transformation stories

[pbonsalb]

It will be down on power compared to your modded 335i and you will have to wind it out to high rpm to get its power. You may or may not like that.

Is the 335i manual or auto and is the M3 DCT or manual?

[wfdeacon88]

Originally Posted by Shiny.E90

Dang! Hahaha I do feel I’m going to get the M3 but just wanted to hear some transformation stories

For my 40 minute commute, the 335 was a good beater. I had to replace like 50 water pumps, but other than that, it was alright.. but when I luckily got rear ended and without thinking picked up the M and it's just a lot better in every aspect. Maintenance is a bit stressing, but mainly because I'm not a gear head and just don't want to miss anything until I get it fully sorted. But overall, I wouldn't go back to a 335 under any circumstances. Not even close.

[tooloud10]

Seems like a perfectly valid question to me--I had the same one when I originally was shopping for a 335i/is and ended up in an M3.

I'm guessing that if the OP's car is making 410whp, it's actually noticeably quicker than a stock M3. Just comparing stock for stock, never mind the OP's FBO:

335i:
Power: 300 @ 5800 rpm
Torque: 300 @ 1200 rpm

M3:
Power: 414 @ 8,300 rpm
Torque: 295 @ 3,900 rpm

So I guess my question to the OP is, what exactly are you looking for? Probably not going to get any more speed, and possibly lose some. Will definitely improve on the handling.

[ItsGary]

I used to have a 335i like you, then I traded it in for an M3 and never looked back. Sure you can go fast in a straight line, but not everything is about going straight for 1/4mile. The M3 drove much better that my 335i which had the M Sport Package.

The interior is much better than the 335i.
The way the car handles is much better than the 335i.
The way the car sounds is much better than the 335i.
I found my 335i boring compared to the M3.

Like wfdeacon88 if I could get that 1 month/7k KMs I did back, I definitely would.

[wfdeacon88]

Originally Posted by ItsGary

I used to have a 335i like you, then I traded it in for an M3 and never looked back. Sure you can go fast in a straight line, but not everything is about going straight for 1/4mile. The M3 drove much better that my 335i which had the M Sport Package.

The interior is much better than the 335i.
The way the car handles is much better than the 335i.
The way the car sounds is much better than the 335i.
I found my 335i boring compared to the M3.

Like wfdeacon88 if I could get that 1 month/7k KMs I did back, I definitely would.

All of these are correct from my experience.. Interior Quality (comparing similar model years) is much better. Handling and feel is significantly better. Sound and overall fun factor is much better. The e9x M3 isn't flawless but it's definitely better in almost every way. Our 335 was stock, but definitely slower IMO than a stock M3 of the same era. I'm sure tuned it can be faster, but doesn't matter, still not as good.

[Teufel_Hunden]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

It will be down on power compared to your modded 335i and you will have to wind it out to high rpm to get its power. You may or may not like that.

Is the 335i manual or auto and is the M3 DCT or manual?

that's the fun part (plus the sound with an MPE or aftermarket exhaust)

I had a 335i and would never go back

[ItsGary]

Originally Posted by wfdeacon88

All of these are correct from my experience.. Interior Quality (comparing similar model years) is much better. Handling and feel is significantly better. Sound and overall fun factor is much better. The e9x M3 isn't flawless but it's definitely better in almost every way. Our 335 was stock, but definitely slower IMO than a stock M3 of the same era. I'm sure tuned it can be faster, but doesn't matter, still not as good.

My 335i was an 09 same as my M3. Its funny cause I see people with 335i always putting M3 parts on their cars but saying the car is shit. Like why take its fenders and stuff then?

[wfdeacon88]

Originally Posted by ItsGary

My 335i was an 09 same as my M3. Its funny cause I see people with 335i always putting M3 parts on their cars but saying the car is shit. Like why take its fenders and stuff then?

ha, same here.. 09 E90 335 to 09 E90 m3. Paid more for the 335 than I did for the used M (6 yrs later). I cringe when I think of that car. Fortunately, it handled its purpose for several years of insanity with my career and I just treated it like shit and didn't care. Pretty sure mine was worth about a trade-in value $500 when it was totalled.

[Shiny.E90]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

It will be down on power compared to your modded 335i and you will have to wind it out to high rpm to get its power. You may or may not like that.

Is the 335i manual or auto and is the M3 DCT or manual?

My 335i is automatic :/ the M3 I found is DCT, I’ve been told when it comes to the M3 you’ve got to get DCT but 335i you’ve got to get manual.

[Shiny.E90]

Originally Posted by tooloud10

Seems like a perfectly valid question to me--I had the same one when I originally was shopping for a 335i/is and ended up in an M3.

I'm guessing that if the OP's car is making 410whp, it's actually noticeably quicker than a stock M3. Just comparing stock for stock, never mind the OP's FBO:

335i:
Power: 300 @ 5800 rpm
Torque: 300 @ 1200 rpm

M3:
Power: 414 @ 8,300 rpm
Torque: 295 @ 3,900 rpm

So I guess my question to the OP is, what exactly are you looking for? Probably not going to get any more speed, and possibly lose some. Will definitely improve on the handling.

Well I love V8’s and handling, I’m not much of a drag racer like I’d much rather take those hairpin exits on highways at fast speeds rather than straight lines, yeah straight lines are fun feeling that torque throw me back is cool plus I live like an hour out from Virginia International Raceway, the 335i was okay on the track. I would want to supercharge the M3 down the road after keeping it stock for a bit

[Shiny.E90]

Originally Posted by wfdeacon88

All of these are correct from my experience.. Interior Quality (comparing similar model years) is much better. Handling and feel is significantly better. Sound and overall fun factor is much better. The e9x M3 isn't flawless but it's definitely better in almost every way. Our 335 was stock, but definitely slower IMO than a stock M3 of the same era. I'm sure tuned it can be faster, but doesn't matter, still not as good.

I thought the interior was basically the same except steering wheel and center?

[wfdeacon88]

Originally Posted by Shiny.E90

I thought the interior was basically the same except steering wheel and center?

I'm no expert, but the leather is entirely different.. Very rough and hard. 335s Dash cracked and was plastic.. trim was different.. It just felt way cheaper overall.

[roastbeef]

nobody has ever upgraded from a m3 to a 335. nobody.

[amrazM]

Non m E9x uses Dakota leather, m cars have Novillo leather. Dashboard is the same unless you have novillo on the bottom of it.

[amrazM]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

nobody has ever upgraded from a m3 to a 335. nobody.

I want to upgrade from an m3 to a 1M.

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by amrazM

I want to upgrade from an m3 to a 1M.

thats not an upgrade, thats a flavor change.

[Helmsman]

There are a sillion 335/M3 reviews, heres one that I think really capture it:
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=428177

[6ixSpd]

If I had a penny for every time this was asked over the years...

Originally Posted by roastbeef

nobody has ever upgraded from a m3 to a 335. nobody.

This.

/thread.